Interesting Facts about the Riviera $20 Silver Strike

The Riviera $20 silver strike was minted by Letcher Mint in 1995. The sample was approved on 07/14/95 and the quantity approved at that time was for 1,010 strikes. The description of the strike under �remarks� is/was �The Entertainment Center of Nevada�. All of the above information was taken from the 1995 Nevada Gaming Commission Chip / Token Approval List.

Letcher Mint (LM mint mark) subsequently changed their to Global Mint (G mint mark). The Nevada Gaming Commission gave Global Mint a variance so they could continue to use the LM mint mark on existing dies.

Now comes the interesting part � The Obverse Eagle design used on the Riviera $20 strike is the �Official Emblem of Syria�. The text inside the banner below the eagle tail feathers is written in Arabic, and translates to �The Syrian Republic�. The Gaming Commission should have listed the obverse design in the �remarks� column. The inscription on the reverse side below �Riviera Hotel Casino� is �The Entertainment Center of Las Vegas, Nevada�.

The Westward-Ho also had a $20 Eagle design minted in 1995 with the LM mint mark, however the obverse Eagle design is different. It was listed under the �remarks� column as �Eagle�. Limited Edition Collector Series� Strike and was approved 07/03/95.